The major or minor presence of clouds in the sky (cloudiness) it is probably one of the most common meteorological phenomena. In a very basic classification, we find those considered normal, which occur regularly and do not usually cause damage and adverse or extreme phenomena, which are unusual and can cause material damage and even endanger human life. The phenomenon you see above is actually an optical illusion formed by plate-shaped ice crystals.Exist different types of meteorological phenomena taking into account its characteristics (optical, hydric and atmospheric), as well as its intensity and impact on nature and human activity. The name commonly given to them is thought of as misleading as a ‘Fire Rainbow’ has nothing to do with rainbow or fire. Overall a supercell is the least common of all thunderstorms and they have the potential to do the most damage. They tend to be a lot fainter than a traditional rainbow due to the amount of light given off of the moon.Ī Supercell is a thunderstorm taken to another level and is normally classed as a supercell when there is the presence of a persistently rotating updraft. Although if they do occur it will likely be in the small town of Burketown in Australia.Ī Moonbow otherwise known as a Lunar or Space Rainbow occurs when light reflects off the surface of the moon and refracts off of moisture in the atmosphere and clouds. Morning glory clouds are so rare that very little is known about them. Some areas are effected differently meaning patches of jagged spikes start to form, eventually there is a whole field left of spikes. At these high altitudes ice can be turned into vapor by the sun before it is melted. This unusual snow formation can be found at very high altitudes. Condensation doesn’t reflect much light so as a result the colours given off are weak, creating a ghostly rainbow. Not somewhere you would want to relax.Įven though they are called rainbows, White Rainbows actually form in fog. The storm occurs 160 days a year on average and can last 10 hours a day. Whats surprising though is that the vortex does not suck up any water and is made entirely of condensation.Ĭatatumbo lighting gets its name from the river that it commonly occurs at, Catatumbo River in Venezuela. Waterspouts form over bodies of water such as oceans. Depending on the levels of moisture in the cloud, some pouches will sink lower than others which causes the hanging and drooping effect. Mammatus clouds form as pouches on the underside of the cloud. This rare phenomenon otherwise known as a Dirty Thunderstorm is caused by rock fragments, ash and ice particles from the volcanic plume colliding together to generate a thunderstorm.
Sprites, Elves and Blue Jets are colourful patches in the sky that form as a result of electrical charges in the atmosphere. The stationary clouds normally form in perpendicular alignment to the wind direction. Lenticular Clouds have a round disc shape that has actually meant they have been the explanation for some UFO sightings. This type of cloud formation might look like the world is about to end but Asperatus Clouds usually dissipate without the formation of a storm. Sun Dogs are halos that occur when light interacts with ice particles in the atmosphere. It occurs as light tunnels through air inside rain droplets and then emits lights backwards.
Sometimes they can form a tornado like structure that suck up burning debris and gases but luckily for us they rarely form full blown tornados.Ī glory is an optical illusion similar to a rainbow although it resembles a halo shape instead. The spikes have been found to contain microorganisms making them temporary miniature ecosystems similar to coral reef.įirst discovered in the 1960’s a brinicle forms below sea ice when a flow of very cold saline water meets an area of ocean water forming the equivalent of an underwater icicle.Īlso known as fire devils or fire tornadoes this terrifying looking weather forms when intense rising heat and strong winds combine together. These frost flowers in the Arctic ocean form from imperfections on the surface of the ice in sub-zero temperatures, normally around the -20C mark.